Review: All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

Release date: July 17th 2018
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us—whose writing is “emotionally wrenching and utterly original” (Sarah Shepard, New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series)—delivers a tour de force novel about a troubled marriage and the one old forgotten promise that might be able to save it.

Quinn and Graham’s perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair.

All Your Perfects is a profound novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. This is a heartbreaking page-turner that asks: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people?

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

All Your Perfects is a beautiful and realistic story depicting how two people can move from being hopelessly in love at the beginning of their relationship to fighting for each other when times get tough.

I'd like to start of my review by admitting that I didn't totally understand Quinn's unhappiness at first. I found it baffling as to how she could be so sad in her marriage yet she wants to have a baby. Babies don't fix things, it only makes the situation more stressful. But as the story progresses and I begin to learn more about what she's going through and why Graham's love hurt her so much then I could sympathize with Quinn and where she's coming from. 

I really like how real and relatable their problems are, especially on Quinn's part. I don't want to specify too much but I do want to say this is something many women face and I like that Colleen explored this issue so much. 

Graham is definitely one of a kind, in the way that he's so loving and understanding of his wife and is accepting of everything about her. I think Quinn had all these expectations and dreams going into their marriage, that while Graham shared and loved about her, he also knew within his heart that none of those things would shatter the love he has for her should they not achieve them. I believe Quinn lost this somewhere down the line and definitely needed to be reminded of what truly matters and why they got married to begin with.

Being that the story is written in past and present times, you really get to experience the highs of their relationship and the most hurtful times. I enjoyed getting to know these two and falling in love with their love. It definitely started out crazy but you quickly warm up to the intense feelings between them. I'd be smiling at their cuteness and then crying at their sadness. It's just that great of a story with superb writing. I haven't read a Hoover novel since Confess, but this book certainly has me hopping back on the CoHo train. I highly recommend!

About the Author
Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Maybe Not, Ugly Love, Confess, November 9, It Ends with Us, and Without Merit. She has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance three years in a row—for Confess (2015), It Ends with Us (2016), and Without Merit (2017). Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Colleen and her family founded The Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service offering signed novels donated by authors. All profits are given to various charities each month to help those in need. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Review: Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker

Release date: January 23rd 2018
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that's been rattling in her closet for years, and succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family's life. Reeling with grief, Noah is forced to carry the burden of this shocking secret.

Gracie Richards wasn't born in a trailer park, but after fourteen years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it's all she knows anymore. At least here people don't care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop, murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. Here, she and her mother are just another family struggling to survive...until a man who clearly doesn't belong shows up on her doorstep.

Despite their differences, Noah and Gracie are searching for answers to the same questions, and together, they set out to uncover the truth about the Austin Police Department's dark and messy past. But the scandal that emerges is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.

Complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling, Keep Her Safe solidifies K.A. Tucker's reputation as one of today's most talented new voices in romantic suspense.

*Received a physical copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

I'm a lover of suspense and Tucker is one of my favorites in that genre. Keep Her Safe is my kind of read, a slow build yet thrilling story bound to keep you hooked until the last page.

This novel intrigues you right away. I immediately attached myself to Noah and the whole situation with his mom. He seemed like such a goody-goody who always did the right thing so I wanted to know what was up with his mother and what part she played in a long cover-up that was obviously destroying her mental state. 

As for Gracie, her gritty character doesn't really come off likable but I understood why she was like that. She had to be tough and wary of everyone who came around her. After all, she and her mother went through a lot, and in comparison to Noah, they didn't have a great life full of opportunities, especially with the horrible picture their hometown and police painted of Gracie's father.

The interactions between the two characters were always interesting. I liked that there wasn't anything instant, though, and that it took a while for both to open up. My hope for growth between them kept me reading, but the mystery surrounding Gracie's father also had my interest. Honestly, I knew a certain someone was involved, with how evasive he seemed throughout, but I wanted to understand why and also get clarity on what went down all those years ago.

Again, this is a great story with Tucker at her best. I don't want to give too much away, the only thing left for me to say is to give it a read if you're looking for a suspense that's not too fast or overwhelming. It's just right.

About the Author

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge. 

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 16 books, including Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water, and her upcoming Adult Suspense novel, Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. 

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband and two beautiful girls.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

Review: Wish You Were Here by Renée Carlino

Release date: August 15th 2017
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, floating from interest to interest, job to job, and guy to guy, searching for a spark but never quite finding it. All she knows is that she won’t discover it working as a waitress at a pies-and-fries joint in Los Angeles or living with her fun but aimless best friend in a tiny apartment in the Arts District.

Then Charlotte collides with Adam, a gorgeous and soulful painter who seems just as lost as she feels. Their instant connection turns into a midnight drink… and a whirlwind night of champagne, Chinese food, and the kind of conversation that only happens in romantic comedies. But the next morning, Adam gives Charlotte the cold shoulder, leaving her confused and hurt—and wondering if the few odd moments between them the night before were red flags in disguise.

Months later, Charlotte hasn’t been able to shake Adam, so she decides to find out what happened the morning after their magical night together. This fateful decision rewrites their wild love story, but what Charlotte doesn’t know yet is that the ending has already been written.

*Publisher approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Renée Carlino has been one of my absolute favorite authors ever since I read Sweet Thing. She's a wonderful storyteller and knows how to pull your heart in and drown it in various emotions. This book was no different. The moment I got wind of Wish You Were Here I knew I was in for a mind-blowing experience. And that's exactly what I got. 

Charlotte is this young woman in her twenties that never seemed to stick to just one thing. She switches interests and boyfriends often because she doesn't get that feeling of certainty that shouts "this is it", so to speak. Still, I found Charlotte's character to be very relatable. Like her, I've often felt adrift or not quite certain of where to go in life. I feel that many people in their twenties especially think they have to decide on one set path, stay on it, and go with the flow, in spite that their hearts may not be all in. But from Charlotte, you get the sense that it's okay to try different things, make mistakes, work on yourself, and keep pushing on until you get there because you will eventually. 

Another thing I related to Charlotte with was how insecure she felt and how she lacked confidence, not only in herself but in her capability to have a healthy relationship and career. And although her encounter with Adam was rather interesting and turned out to be full of excitement for that one night, the misunderstanding that transpired the morning after didn't help her self-doubt and already low self-esteem whatsoever. As a matter of fact, her dignity was so bruised that it made it difficult to move on with another. Thank goodness Seth was a great guy and was willing to wait for Charlotte. Even after she reunited with Adam and all that happened after. That's where the sad elements of the book peaked. 

Adam. What could I possibly say about this guy that would sum up his awesomeness in the story? There isn't one word that could do him justice, to be honest. He was just that wonderful. Adam was facing something so sad and horrible, yet he smiled and continued to appreciate the small things in life. His love for art and Charlotte was so admirable and so real, that I could feel it through the pages. Their connection was intense, beautiful and painful all in one. My heart ached for them, like seriously. And while I did love Seth, his sweet personality and how even though it hurt, he understood and accepted Charlotte's feelings, a huge part of me loved Adam more and rooted for him. 

Regardless of how things went, I was thrilled that Charlotte at least experienced self-growth toward the end of the story and finally saw herself as she should have from the beginning, strong and worthy. 

Yeah, the book does have painful moments, but thanks to Charlotte's brother and her friendship with Helen, there were humorous times as well. The brother/sister aspect was particularly my favorite. Chucky, like most siblings, knew how to push his sister's buttons and they sure did mess with each other. But at the end of the day, it was all fun and I liked how supportive her brother was in his own way. As for Helen, it was mostly love/dislike for me. I loved that she could cheer up Charlotte and was so close to her family, but I felt like Helen wasn't really there for her best friend in that whole situation with Adam. I thought she could have been a bit more understanding and stop bringing up Seth every time she was around Charlotte. The situation was already complicated and I didn't like some of the things she said. Glad they were able to resolve all that over time though.    

To conclude, Ms. Carlino has definitely done it again. This was such a great story. I transitioned from laughing to crying to feeling frustrated, then to sad and crying happy tears throughout the book. Only a few authors mess with my emotions this much the way Renée does and I just love that you never know how you'll end up feeling by the end of her stories. My gosh, I cannot recommend this one enough. If you're up for an emotional read definitely give this one a chance. You won't regret it.

About the Author

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of romantic women's novels and new adult fiction. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.

www.reneecarlino.com

facebook.com/AuthorReneeCarlino

twitter.com/renayz

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Review: It Happens All the Time by Amy Hatvany

Release date: March 28th 2017
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

From master storyteller Amy Hatvany—whose writing has been hailed as “gripping and emotionally honest” (Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times betselling author)—comes a provocative and compelling novel about two friends whose lives are changed by a drunken kiss.

I want to rewind the clock, take back the night when the world shattered. I want to erase everything that went wrong.

Amber Bryant and Tyler Hicks have been best friends since they were teenagers—trusting and depending on each other through some of the darkest periods of their young lives. And while Amber has always felt that their relationship is strictly platonic, Tyler has long harbored the secret desire that they might one day become more than friends.

Returning home for the summer after her college graduation, Amber begins spending more time with Tyler than she has in years. Despite the fact that Amber is engaged to her college sweetheart, a flirtation begins to grow between them. One night, fueled by alcohol and concerns about whether she’s getting married too young, Amber kisses Tyler.

What happens next will change them forever.

In alternating points of view, It Happens All the Time examines the complexity of sexual dynamics between men and women and offers an incisive exploration of gender roles, expectations, and the ever-timely issue of consent.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping, indeed. One message that stuck out the most is that it didn't matter if you knew the person and trusted them. Sometimes they were the same ones to turn around and hurt you. It Happens All the Time can attest to that and so much more. 

I loved how the author gave us the chance to look into each character's life and understand who they were as people. A lot happened to both Amber and Tyler, and it was nice seeing how they bonded as children and grew up together as best friends. There were hints every so often that Tyler was nearing the point of doing something horrific. He had a miserable excuse of a father and his mother was a whole nother situation. Coming from such a family and seeing how his father treated women, one could only expect Tyler to do the same. No matter how sweet he came off and did his best to not turn out like his father, the seed was already planted and the fact that he never got counseling was a huge mistake. 

Amber, on the other hand, had image issues throughout her life. And Tyler had helped her deal with that greatly, so when he ended up hurting her in such a way, my heart broke right along with Amber's. Everything they'd shared--years of friendship--had disappeared in one night. And what pissed me off, even more, was the fact that Tyler wouldn't even fess up, and even had the audacity to blame Amber. She literally had to shoot it out of him, which is the reason why I gave the book 4 stars. I hated that Amber took that route and had to hope Tyler would cover for her afterward. That just sucked to me, and I wish he would have talked about his problems sooner and gotten the help he needed so it would never have gotten to that point. 

Still, I'm happy with the way the story ended. Not many assault victims are granted the same sense of justice. I've read that the stats are pretty low in that regard and how victims are often blamed and shamed by society, so it makes coming forward even more difficult. That's really sad. I just hope things will change in the near future and that more and more, boys will be taught from early how to respect women and understand that no means no, no buts about it. Thank you for your wonderful story, Amy.

About the Author

Amy Hatvany is the author of Best Kept Secret, Outside the Lines, The Language of Sisters, Heart Like Mine, and Safe with Me. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her family. Amy graduated with a degree in Sociology only to discover most sociologists are unemployed. Soon followed a variety of jobs – some of which she loved, like decorating wedding cakes; others which she merely tolerated, like receptionist. Her background in sociology inspires and informs much of her writing as she tackles timely and controversial issues in her novels including mental illness, domestic abuse, and alcoholism. When Amy’s not with friends or family, she is most likely reading, cooking, or zoning out on certain reality television shows.

www.amyhatvany.com | FACEBOOK

Review: The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell

Release date: June 7th 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Imagine that you live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses. You’ve known your neighbors for years and you trust them. Implicitly. You think your children are safe. But are they really? 

On a midsummer night, as a festive neighborhood party is taking place, preteen Pip discovers her thirteen-year-old sister Grace lying unconscious and bloody in a hidden corner of a lush rose garden. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?

Dark secrets, a devastating mystery, and the games both children and adults play all swirl together in this gripping novel, packed with utterly believable characters and page-turning suspense.

*Received physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how the story started with a startling discovery and from there I was pulled into the mystery of what had happened and who had done that?

While it was an interesting story, told from third person narration and giving the reader everyone's backstory and what the surrounding was like, the pacing was rather slow and a tad draggy. I couldn't wait to get back to the present and find out the situation with Grace, and that alone kept me going. But at the same time, I understood that knowing each character would give me an idea as to who had hurt Grace. I figured it out pretty early and was basically looking forward to some kind of punishment. But unfortunately, it didn't come. And at the end of the story, I was left disappointed and confused. I kept asking, "What was the point of all that then?" 

I don't think I cared much for any of the characters, well except for Pip. She was the most likable. And I kind of felt like she was too mature for the age. The voice came out like a sixteen year old and not of a twelve year old, and she even seemed older than her sister, who was thirteen. I don't know, maybe it's me. But a lot of times I was confused and forgot their ages because their voices and actions seemed older. 

In regards to what happened to Grace, some may say she deserved it and should have behaved better. But look at the situation. Her father was mentally ill and the family had endured a dramatic, emotional change. The poor girl didn't know how to cope and was clearly looking for something. And I think the mom should have put an end to Grace's relationship with that kid. What they'd done was inappropriate for their age and they were too young to have been carrying on like that. Plus Grace needed better structure and a more present parent. That's just my opinion on the matter. 

Pip was the only one that seemed to have it together. People forget sometimes that just because you're adults doesn't always mean you'll handle things better. In fact, Pip seemed more together than their mom. I'm just saying. 

Other things that bugged me were the Howes family. They were just too carefree and the father was clearly a perv. Their children didn't seem to have much discipline either and the mom would rather be in the dark than address issues. 

There was just a lot of things that put me off about this group of people and the things that took place with the kids. But the mystery surrounding Grace kept me going. Sadly, the ending didn't satisfy me and I wanted a better conclusion--justice--for the girl. Overall, an interesting story. It need a bit more though. 

About the Author

Lisa Jewell is a popular British author of chick lit fiction. Her books include Ralph's Party, Thirtynothing and 31 Dream Street. She lives in Swiss Cottage, London with her husband Jascha and daughters Amelie Mae and Evie Scarlett.

www.lisa-jewell.co.uk

twitter.com/lisajewelluk

Review & Giveaway: Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino

Release date: August 9th 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodreads:

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

*Publisher provided ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Renee Carlino is one of my favs and this book is a reminder why: she's a wonderful writer that always delivers gripping, emotional stories and vibrant characters. 

From the very first page I was pulled in and wanted to know more about Emiline. She seemed to have a nice boyfriend and supportive best friend, but something was off about her. She was guarded, harboring something in her heart. Then she starts reading J. Colby's book and that tightly sealed damn literally erupted. 

I found it interesting that while Emiline was reading Jase's book and having her bottled up emotions pour out, my heart was being tugged at along with hers. Her childhood story, even though some parts were changed by Jase, was so heart-wrenching. It was no wonder she tried so hard to lock it a way, no matter how her current boyfriend, Trevor would want her to open up. And I could understand her initial anger over Jase writing about her story. They hadn't spoken in years and she felt neglected by her first, and most intense, love, especially after what happened the last time they were together as teens.

At first Emi believed Jase was writing about her from her perspective, and he certainly seemed to have it locked down when it came to describing her emotions in various parts. But once she got to the made up scenes and finally met him again after so long, Jase tried to get her to understand that the book was "for" her and not "about" her. Like Emi, I didn't really comprehend what Jase's intentions were. But over time, Emiline finally got it in her head that the book was meant to help her heal, because after all those years she still had all that pent up hurt and wasn't letting it go. And it was nice to see that Jase's book encouraged her to return to her childhood town, not to mention she decided to reconnect with one of the people who hurt her badly. Yeah, Emi's dad was quite the monster and not many would want to reach out to such a person after what he did to his daughter. But I understood why Emi met up with him again as an adult. She needed closure in order to move forward, not for him but for herself. Her mother was totally the opposite. I honestly didn't know what to expect from Emi's mom, but damn, what a piece of work.

There's a lot I could write in my review to show how much I loved this story. I mean, it had messages throughout that I could take and apply to my own life, even if I hadn't experienced a past like Emiline's or Jason's. Their history together was just intense. In spite of all the pain they had endured, they managed to find this beautiful thing called love and it got them through. Emiline often doubted her strength and self-worth, and that was understandable, but Jason was there to love and support her even when he wasn't physically by her side. And although they got separated as teens and Emiline tried to block it out and pretend her way through life, the love they had was too real to continue denying. It was a sure thing that they would eventually meet again, no matter if it took a book for that to happen.  

Again, beautiful writing, engrossing story, and authentic characters. What more could I ask for? Swear on This Life served up a great mix and left me emotionally messed up. Thank you, Ms. Carlino, I'm still recovering from your previous and now I have to add this to it. But no matter what, I'm always looking forward to your next :)

About the Author

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of romantic women's novels and new adult fiction. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.

www.reneecarlino.com

facebook.com/AuthorReneeCarlino

twitter.com/renayz

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Review: He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker

Release date: February 2nd 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Twenty-eight-year-old Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what's left of her best friend's belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a bottle of Xanax and a handle of vodka, and never woke up. 

But when Maggie discovers secrets in the childhood lock box hidden in Celine's apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man who Celine herself claimed would be her ruin. 

On the hunt for answers that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine's private life--and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.

*Received a physical copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

He Will Be My Ruin is by far my favorite suspense novel by  K.A. Tucker. The story sucked me in from start with that chilling prologue, which had me wondering who the hell had Maggie captive and how did she end up in that predicament after her friend supposedly killed herself? 

I really thought I had it figured out when Maggie came in contact with one person in particular, and this guy seemed like the perfect fit because of the kind of access he had in Celine's life, but then another came into the picture and my mind started going back and forth between them. I would snap at Maggie when she couldn't see something that was so clear to me, but then I'd retract because once the story progressed and got deeper, I realized that it truly could be anyone close to Celine from the life she was secretly living. And if you're easily turned off by a certain lifestyle in books and the not so sweet or perfect acts carried out by characters, then you might be quick to judge Celine because of what she did to get by. I liked her, in spite of the decisions she made. Celine's the perfect representation of someone having financial difficulties who resort to unfavorable choices when desperate for a better life. Her mother was ill and she relied on her daughter's help. I mean, I got mad at Celine several times for not accepting help from Maggie, but I understood why and I got that she just didn't want her bestfriend's handouts. Perhaps Celine didn't want to seem like that needy person and wanted to earn her own, no matter the methods. Or you could say it was pride. Either way, she was a desperate young woman who fell into a life she shouldn't have and had some emotional issues no one should suffer through. 

As for Maggie, she was tough, and I loved that she was so determined to prove that her best friend didn't commit suicide and that someone else was at play. She started her own investigation and got the help of others that over time became just as determined as she was. I liked that Maggie got to see a different side to her friend by reading the diaries. She discovered how Celine really felt about her and the wealth that she came from. And sometimes when you and your friends come from two separate lifestyles, you never really know how one honestly thinks of the other in their hearts. So the diaries were a way for Maggie and the reader to understand Celine more. And even though it was a surprise and a tad too soon that Maggie had such an encounter with one guy, and then hours later she was having another "interesting" experience with another, I didn't let those acts sway me from the story and the mystery of what happened to Celine. And I should mention that it was a great thing that the author gave us some chapters with Celine's POV that coincided with a reveal from Maggie's chapters. It also made some things clearer to me. 

Another thing I enjoyed was the addition of art and Celine's love for art history. It was almost like a learning experience whenever something involving her collection came up and I'd feel so enamored and want to know if these pieces truly existed. I liked her friend, Hans, and how much he added to that aspect of the story. I could honestly feel his love for these artsy finds jump out of the pages. He was quite a likable character who added a bit of entertainment in his scenes when the story became too intense for me. Ruby was also a wonderful inclusion and it was nice to have another person on Maggie's team when no one else believed that her friend didn't kill herself.

Okay, I don't want to continue any further in fear of giving too much away, but I can conclude with how much I loved the story and the overall element of suspense. K.A. is a superb writer and as usual, her storytelling is on point. She had me seriously second-guessing myself with this one. When I was convinced I had solved the mystery of Celine, the author totally switched it up on me towards the end and I loved how it played out. Such a awesome story filled with intrigued and a lot of twists. I highly recommend. 

About the Author

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. 

She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

www.katuckerbooks.com

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Review: Cam Girl by Leah Raeder

Release date: November 3rd 2015
Publisher: Atria
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art and her best friend—and sometimes more—Ellis Carraway. Ellis and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart.

Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.

Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone.

She’s got nothing left to lose.

So when she meets some smooth-talking entrepreneurs who offer to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night stripping on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.

It’s just a kinky escape from reality until a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they chat intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. It’s an easy decision: she’s starting to fall for him. But the steamier it gets, the more she craves the real man behind the keyboard. So Vada pops the question:

Can we meet IRL?

Blue agrees, on one condition. A condition that brings back a ghost from her past. Now Vada must confront the devastating secrets she's been running from—those of others, and those she's been keeping from herself...

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cam Girl was a very interesting story. It took me some time to get into it but once I did I ended up liking it for the most part. I found it intriguing in the sense that there were various aspects to the story aside from the characters figuring out their lives. There was a mystery as to what really happened on the night of the accident, and later on there was this whole thing with "Blue" and his identity. And even though it was kind of weird and not many people would do that, but I liked how Vada and a particular character developed this bond over the accident. In a way, they held on to their individual suffering through the other and I was happy that in the end, it resolved and they started on the journey of moving on.

In regards to the characters though, I didn't connect with either Vada or Ellis. I didn't like the way Ellis was, I thought she could be stronger when it came to Vada and often times she just seemed too clingy. I wanted her to realize that she deserved so much more and would start to live for herself. I couldn't get over what she did to gain Vada's attention, even though it wasn't necessary, it was dishonest and she should have fought harder and been truthful about herself. As for Vada, she was a very complicated character. I understood her individual struggles, and the pain of not being able to do something she was so passionate about, but there were times I just couldn't take her complacent and self-pitying ways. And some of her decisions were just mind-baffling.  

But like I said, it was an interesting story and I enjoyed it. There were sexual moments that made me cringe a tad, mostly because it seemed to happen too much, but it was tolerable for a new adult novel. I also liked the whole concept of "Blue", and the conversations he and Vada would have. I had two people in mind that could possibly be Blue, and even leaned mostly toward one in particular when Vada met him. But when his true identity was unraveled, I realized how many times I had missed the clues and in a way, I wanted it to be someone else aside from who it really was. Regardless, it was a good idea to make Blue be that person in particular. It made sense because of what this person was struggling with.

As always, the writing was superb. The kind of creative writing that puts your mind to work. Leah is just awesome and I commend her for writing these kind of stories that are somewhat few in the world of books and are very much needed for people like Vada and Ellis. Their characters are relatable in that sense. Cam Girl is a great story. Give it a read.

About the Author

LEAH RAEDER is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago.

(And she still writes pretentiously lyrical fiction.)

www.leahraeder.com | facebook.com/leahraederbooks

Review: Surviving Ice (Burying Water #4) by K.A. Tucker

Release date: October 27th 2015
Publisher: Atria Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Ivy Lee, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have finally found it working in her uncle’s tattoo shop in San Francisco. But all that changes when a robbery turns deadly, compelling her to pack up her things yet again.

When they need the best, they call him. That’s why Sebastian Riker is back in California, cleaning up the mess made after a tattoo shop owner with a penchant for blackmail got himself shot. But it’s impossible to get the answers he needs from a dead body, leaving him to look elsewhere. Namely, to the twenty-something-year-old niece who believes this was a random attack. Who needs to keep believing that until Sebastian finds what he’s searching for.

Ivy has one foot out of San Francisco when a chance encounter with a stranger stalls her departure. She’s always been drawn to intense men, so it’s no wonder that she now finds a reason to stay after all, quickly intoxicated by his dark smile, his intimidating strength, and his quiet control.

That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter was no accident—and that their attraction could be her undoing.

*Received a physical ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED it! Surviving Ice is raw, intense, twisted, dangerously sexy when it should be, and very intriguing. It's just overall the right kind of mix for a great suspense novel. 

Ivy is imperfectly perfect. She's a tough woman who doesn't take crap from anybody and I love how confident and strong she is, and at the same time there is a sense of vulnerability about her character. While we got a bit of that in the previous book, Surviving Ice depicts that softer side of Ivy a little more, but without making her too soft or seem like she's lost her edge. And I'm glad that Tucker held on to that throughout the story. 

So the book opens up with Ivy at her uncle's tattoo shop. All seems well and we get the feeling that she's found somewhat of a place to call home and maybe will stick around longer than she normally does. But then something very tragic happens and Ivy is caught up in the mix. I can't even begin to imagine witnessing something like that. The realness of the scene was quite intense. I could visualize everything taking place so vividly in my head. Ivy's uncle seemed to be as tough as she was but he understood her personality and saw the best in her. So the pain of losing him was quite real, and if it were me I'd be just as intent on finding the people responsible, no matter the dangers of my search.

In comes Sebastian, a former Navy SEAL working for a security company called Alliance, that turned out to be behind the horrific event that took place at Ned's shop. Ned knew something he shouldn't, which led to his demise, but he also left some evidence behind that Alliance would like to retrieve discreetly. In Sebastian's mind, what he and his friend--the owner of Alliance--does is justifiable because it's in the best interest of the country. Bullcrap. Their methods of shutting people up made me want to barf and it's terrifying to know that this happens for real. But sadly, Sebastian isn't aware of some of the disgusting acts Alliance allows to continue, so it was a good thing he was called in to retrieve the evidence hidden by Ned because he wouldn't have discovered the truth about the company he believed in so strongly.

From the beginning, the situation was intense. Sebastian, like Ivy, was used to not staying in one place or getting attached. In the past he had, but have since dedicated himself to working for Alliance and staying away from anything else that required commitment. Basically he'd been through a lot and carried guilt around. And no matter how hard he tried to keep his feelings out of the mix and do his job, with Ivy he started to shatter that cold front, and along the way, he managed to shatter hers as well. 

It was interesting to see these two flawed characters learn to open up and develop feelings for each other. And amid the dangers lurking around them, I'm happy that there were some flirty moments and that they found romance in their way. One may not consider these moments very romantic but like I said, it was done in their way--rugged and raw--and it worked for them.

The overall plot is great. The writing, as usual, is superb. K.A. is a wonderful story-teller who knows how to keep things interesting, whether with the suspense or unraveling characters so we can see what's beneath the surface. And what I love about Ivy and Sebastian is how real they are, and in a way, their flaws make them that much more beautiful. Such a great story and wonderful conclusion to an awesome series. Surviving Ice would have to be my favorite. There's something about Ivy that had my attention from the very moment I came across her character, and for some reason she has resonated more with me than the other women in the series. I'm sure when you've read this one you'll understand what I'm saying, and may discover that she is indeed hard to forget. I highly recommend.   

About the Author

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. 

She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

www.katuckerbooks.com

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